SARASOTA, Fla. -- Watch Mychal Givens pitch, and it quickly becomes apparent how the right-hander can be a nightmare for right-handed hitters. Givens, the Orioles' No. 4 prospect, slings the ball from a sidearm slot, creating darting movement on a mid- to upper-90s fastball and a nasty slider.
For some pitchers, a low slot can really challenge opposite-handed batters, who have a better chance to pick up the ball early. But thus far in his young career on the mound, which began in 2013 when he converted from shortstop, Givens has avoided a large platoon split that could limit his ceiling.